Minister Lui Tuck Yew opens Singapore Maritime Week 2015
with Maritime Singapore Exhibition

The 10th edition of the Singapore Maritime Week (SMW) was officially opened this afternoon by Minister for Transport and Second Minister for Defence, Mr Lui Tuck Yew, at the Marina Bay Sands Event Plaza. Driven by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), SMW 2015 will feature 30 events from 19 to 24 April 2015. About 54,000 public participants and high-level delegates representing port authorities, CEOs, industry leaders, and maritime experts worldwide are expected to attend these events.

Themed People, Ideas and Opportunities, SMW 2015 will be a key platform to promote thought leadership and business opportunities across the maritime sector, as well as offer fruitful networking opportunities for the who's who in the industry. The annual event will also showcase Singapore's vibrant maritime cluster, which extends from shipping, offshore marine, ancillary services to research and development. Community outreach events will also be enhanced to generate public interest in the maritime sector and the exciting career opportunities it offers.

"Singapore Maritime Week brings together stakeholders from around the world to exchange views on key issues of the day. Over the years, SMW has grown in size and significance, and is now one of the largest maritime events in the region. The expansion of SMW reflects the growing role that Singapore plays as an international hub port and maritime centre," said Minister Lui Tuck Yew.

At the event, Minister Lui also officiated the opening of the inaugural Maritime Heritage Exhibition. Put together by MPA and its partners, including the Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF), the Singapore Shipping Association (SSA), and the Association of Singapore Marine Industries (ASMI), the exhibition tells the story of how the past and present are shaping the future of Maritime Singapore. Walking through the five zones of the exhibition, visitors will experience the transformation of Maritime Singapore through artefacts, interactive presentations and multi-media displays. The exhibition, which is at the Marina Bay Sands Event Plaza, is open to the public till 24 April 2015, from 10am to 9.00pm daily. Admission is free.

During the week, more than 1,000 students and members of the public will also go on SMW Maritime Learning Journeys that include sea tours to the Raffles Lighthouse. This complements the ongoing efforts to generate public interest in the maritime sector and to profile the exciting career opportunities it offers.

Besides the Maritime Heritage Exhibition and Maritime Learning Journeys, members of the public can also look forward to more outreach activities later this year. These include the Singapore Maritime Trails and the Amazing Maritime Challenge that will be held in September in conjunction with World Maritime Day. These activities are part of MPA's ongoing efforts to promote Maritime Singapore and careers in the maritime sector.

New events at this year's SMW include:

-Advanced Maritime Leadership Programme - a new programme specially designed for senior maritime leaders heading their country's maritime or port administration. Organised by the MPA Academy, the training arm of MPA, this unique and immersive executive development programme seeks to further hone the leadership skills of senior maritime leaders and build new capacity to transform their organisations, amidst an increasingly complex and globalised environment.

-Port Authorities Roundtable - a summit for CEO and senior leaders of port authorities to share insights on topical maritime issues. The high-level networking event provides a platform to advance cooperation and collaboration in maritime matters.

-Singapore Maritime Technology Conference - a platform for industry engagement and technology promotion. It brings together local and overseas maritime companies and organisations, including terminal operators, port users, ship owners/operators, as well as equipment and technology solution providers, to promote and profile industry solutions and technologies, and provide thought leadership in maritime technology.

Please refer to Annex A for write ups on all the SMW 2015 events.
 

Minister Lui Tuck Yew launches the 10th Singapore Maritime Week
 

Minister Lui viewing the artefacts at the Singapore Maritime Exhibition
 

Minister Lui writing his well wishes for Maritime Singapore that Singapore will continue to grow as a global port and maritime centre

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About Singapore Maritime Week (19 - 24 April 2015)
Singapore Maritime Week (SMW) is the leading maritime event in Singapore. Driven by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), SMW gathers the international maritime community in Singapore for a week of conferences, dialogues, exhibitions and social events in celebration of all things maritime. The range of activities and events organised by MPA, the industry, and research and educational institutions, as well as the cosmopolitan profile of participants, reflect the vibrancy and diversity of Singapore as a major international maritime centre.
 

SMW has grown in significance since the inaugural event in 2006, and is attracting more participants and event organisers from around the world. Participants can experience something new every year, as activities are added to the line-up, and as eminent speakers share their insights and participate in dialogues on topical maritime issues. This dynamism and the good range of issues discussed during SMW are major draws for maritime decision-makers, as are the many business networking platforms. This is why Singapore Maritime Week is all about PEOPLE, IDEAS and OPPORTUNITIES for the maritime community.

For more information and the full calendar of events, please visit www.smw.sg.